UAE-based media conglomerate Abu Dhabi Media Company has hired Ricky Ghai as executive director of digital media.

Ghai has 20 years' experience in pay and free TV platforms in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. His career highlights include channel development for Universal in Scandinavia, a compliance and regulatory advisor to BT Entertainment, director of programming for TV3 Sweden, CEO of MBC subsidiary ARA Programming & Distribution and held various positions in BT Vision, involved in the recent launch of BT's iptv VOD service.

'Ricky Ghai joins Abu Dhabi Media Company to lead a new digital media age across the MENA region and particularly in the GCC,' said Edward Borgerding, CEO, Abu Dhabi Media Company.

Commenting on his partnership with the recently appointed CEO, Ghai said: 'We have exciting plans for digital content creation and distribution in the region. We are in a very good position to develop and lead this fast evolving part of the media industry and we are confident Abu Dhabi Media Company will emerge as an icon of digital distribution in the region.'